Jane W.
Yelp
What makes a Melbourne restaurant full, that isn't in the CBD with a multi million dollar fit-out, doesn't advertise, doesn't make bitching wise-cracks on social media, nor have an ongoing love affair with PR? I mean completely full every week? On a Monday night? At 9pm?
Whatever it is, Peko Peko has it. In spades.
It fits the Melbourne criteria of being somewhere wacky. A back street behind St Kilda Road, lined with serviced apartments and hotels. Nearby brothels hold hands with ad agencies, media companies and architects.
While Peko Peko's not the best restaurant in Melbourne, it is consistent. The food is always the same standard. There's crispy stuff, slurpy stuff and mini stuff. The service is always friendly and engaging. The young Asian staff have an alternative cool of their own design.
It's quirky and peppered with lots of the owner's little cartoons. The menu is easy to navigate and great bang for buck.
How do I know this? We've been coming here for years. At lunch it's full of local workers. At night it's full of Asians of all ages.The menu has shrunk, got a bit skimpier and some of our favourites are gone, but that's OK. There's still tons of choice. And I can even bring my fussy parents here.
The food is Taiwanese, not Japanese as some reviewers have stated. The menu is divided into small items, Bento boxes, noodle soups - with some toppings in common with the bento - and some rice plates. A handful of desserts round it out.
Holding it together is the Mum in the kitchen, an iron fist in a velvet glove of culinary efficiency. An undercover Iron Chef. The woman who has made this the place we drop into after a show in the Arts precinct, for her clear menu savvy and quick service. Respect.
I'm not giving it full marks. A venue has to make me swoon with creativity, good provenance and culinary prowess for that.
But Peko Peko is certainly somewhere we drop our cash regularly when we're not looking for our tastebuds or wallet to be challenged and are happy to cough a bit after a dose of MSG.
There's no bar, no door bitch, not hipsters, nor FOMO foodies queued around the block. It just is. Take it or leave it and be prepared to wait for a seat or make a booking. Yes, they do take bookings. How uncool. Or not. Whatever.
Plenty of other venues would love what these guys have. On a Monday. At 9pm.